Meet Lorena Fox | Freelance Designer and Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lorena Fox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lorena, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always been drawn to all things creative, that part has been a given. It’s been in my core for as long as I can remember. The trick was to find the best type of creative career for me. I discovered Graphic Design in college and after many years in agency settings, I now have my own freelance-based design business. I also started doing fine art steadily and constantly dabble in other new creative endeavors for fun. Finding and taking a painting class was a New Years Resolution to myself 5 years ago and I’m letting it go where it leads, without too much stress or pressure. It’s my creative outlet to my creative career.

In school, I remember that with other subjects (like Math) I was good at, but I was also bored by it. There was a correct way to solve a problem and once you figured out that system, you simply implemented the system. In Design and in many creative fields, there is no absolute ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. One must rely on intuition and skill to get to a solution, then evaluating its effectiveness also depends on intuition and experience, from oneself and from others. This is a much more interesting way to problem solve and is intriguing to me.

When I was in elementary school, I begged my mom to let me join the adult art classes. She then was able to sweet talk the instructor to let me participate and I was in heaven. That excitement still today churns deep from within. When you know the feeling, you just know. You have to work through whatever pressures may be holding you back and just make it happen.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to just start. It’s understandable to want to have a long term plan figured out, and a big goal in mind. But setting one mini goal at a time and allowing that to fully form in your life will then help you identify your next baby step. It takes the pressure off, breaks down your hesitation walls, and allows you evaluate and make decisions with the most current information. This is has been revolutionary in my life, in graphic design, and in painting.

As an artist, I’m attracted to paintings that are loose and free. I strive to paint that way also and know that one of the worst ways to ruin a painting is to stay too close to it for too long. You must back up and look at it from a distance. You must let it rest, let the colors meld, and restart with a fresh eye. I will start a painting with colors and a subject in mind, but if it goes in a different direction, that’s ok. Allowing that process by letting go of original intentions is a beautiful, freeing feeling.

I joke that sometimes getting a painting to a good place can be like wrestling with a water buffalo. It also can be a like a floating butterfly. If the buffalo wrestling match is involved, it’s good to remember and accept that it’s also part of the process. It helps to create texture, depth, layers, and movement. Trusting the process is key.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many great places in Colorado! Let’s be sure to hit Pearl Street in Boulder and maybe Red Rocks if a good band is playing. But then let’s spend the rest of the time exploring beautiful trails and nature. Want to go mountain biking or hiking? Let’s do it! Betasso is a great local Boulder trail, and so is Hall Ranch in Lyons.

We’ll definitely grab a delicious sandwich at the local St Vrain Market if we finish Hall Ranch around lunch time, or grab a burger at Oskar Blues for HH. If we hike, we must hike with the dog, of course. Chautauqua and the famous Flatirons are a must-see (weekdays only to avoid crowds) and Eldorado Springs is gorgeous. We could hike for weeks on all the trails around Boulder/Longmont. The Mountain Fountain in Hygiene is also a must stop, either via road bike or on the way to hike Rabbit Mountain or kayak McIntosh Lake in Longmont.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents for always being open and allowing me to do whatever makes me happiest. Many Graphic Design instructors who critiqued harshly but honestly and encouraged me to start over with a fresh eye if something just wasn’t working. I’ve learned that letting go when you’ve spent hours, days, or even weeks on something instantly opens you up a better (or at least different) perspective. I’d also like to give a Shoutout to my recent painting teacher, Jacque Michelle, who taught me the fundamentals of the acrylic medium and allowed the space to escape and paint freely.

Website: https://lorenafox.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenafox.art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-fox-4226612/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorenafox.art

Other: http://matikastudios.com/